100 Years Anniversary 11-13 October 2013 ST MARY ROMANIAN

100 Years Anniversary 11-13 October 2013 ST MARY ROMANIAN

St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, St. Paul MN
BULLETIN
100 Anniversary 11-13 Oct. 2013
100 Years Anniversary
11-13 October 2013
ST MARY ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
854 Woodbridge Street, St. Paul, MN 55117
www.saintmarymn.org
Parish priest: Mircea Vasiu
- home (651) 489-561
- office (651) 488-5669 / cell (734) 497-4544
- email: frmirceavasiu@yahoo.com
FRICA DE DUMNEZEU
Credinta sincera ne duce inevitabil la frica de
Dumnezeu. Credinta sincera ne ajuta sa ne punem
serios problema vietii duhovnicesti. Solomon ne
spune ca "frica de Dumnezeu este inceputul
intelepciunii" (Pilde 1, 7).
Ne reamintim faptul ca Sfantul Isaac Sirul vede
o inlantuire logica a virtutilor. "Cunostinta
naturala, spune el, ne convinge sa credem in
Dumnezeu, Cel ce a adus toate la existenta. Si
credinta produce in noi frica si frica ne sileste sa
ne pocaim si sa lucram cele bune".
Neamul nostru, a carui spiritualitate a dospit in
framantatura crestina, atunci cand doreste sa-l
caracterizeze pe un om incarcat de virtuti se
foloseste de sintagma "om cu frica de Dumnezeu".
De fapt insusi Domnul Iisus Hristos vorbindu-ne
despre un om ticalos ne spune ca "intro cetate era
un judecator care de Dumnezeu nu se temea si de
om nu se rusina" (Lc. 18, 2).
Sfantul Ioan Gura de Aur subliniaza cu tarie
folosul pe care ni-l aduce frica de Dumnezeu. Ea
pune frau pacatului si inmulteste virtutile. Ea il
ajuta pe om sa ramana pe calea cea dreapta. "Unde
stapaneste temerea, nu se afla invidie; unde
stapaneste temerea, nu ne supara dragostea de
bogatii; unde stapaneste temerea, pofta vinovata
este inabusita, orice patima neinteleapta este
alungata... Acolo unde stapaneste temerea,
stapanesc, de asemenea, ravna milosteniei,
rugaciunea fierbinte, lacrimile arzatoare si fara
oprire, gemetele pline de parere de rau..."
Daca atunci cand vorbeam de credinta spuneam
ca aceasta sufera un proces de crestere si intarire,
acelasi lucru se intampla si cu frica de Dumnezeu.
Are si ea masurile ei. In general Parintii
pomenesc, in ordine crescanda, trei masuri ale
fricii de Dumnezeu: masura robilor, masura
simbriasilor si masura fiilor.
Cea mai de jos masura, de la care incepe frica
de Dumnezeu, este masura robilor. Robii
implineau voia stapanului de frica pedepsei, de
frica biciului. Nu era vorba de sentimente
deosebite in relatia dintre sclav si stapan si nici de
constiinta unei datorii pe care trebuie sa o
indeplineasca. Este vorba, pur si simplu, de fiorul
ce ti-l da eventuala pedeapsa pe care ti-o poate
administra stapanul daca nu-ti faci datoria. La
aceasta masura sunt crestinii care fac voia lui
Dumnezeu gandindu-se la pedepsele vremelnice,
pe care li le-ar putea da Dumnezeu, sau la chinurile
iadului din viata de apoi. Si totusi e bine daca,
macar asa, de frica pedepsei, oamenii duc o viata
placuta lui Dumnezeu. Totusi Sfantul Apostol
Pavel le scrie romanilor: "este nevoie sa va
supuneti, nu numai pentru manie, ci si pentru
constiinta" (Romani 13, 5).
A doua masura la care ajunge frica de
Dumnezeu este masura simbriasilor. Simbriasii
lucreaza bine si cu ravna nu de frica pedepsei, ci
gandindu-se la rasplata muncii lor.
La aceasta masura sunt crestinii care fac voia
lui Dumnezeu pentru a le merge bine pe pamant si
a mosteni raiul dupa moarte. Ei sunt niste buni
negustori. Stiu sa castige raiul prin faptele lor.
A treia masura la care ajunge frica de
Dumnezeu este masura fiilor. Fiii cuminti si
ascultatori fac voia tatalui nici de frica, nici
gandindu-se la avantaje, ci pentru ca isi iubesc
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, St. Paul MN
parintele. Sfantul Ioan ne spune, in acest sens, ca
"in iubire nu este frica, ca iubirea desavarsita
alunga frica" (1 Ioan 4,18). Iar Sf. Antonie cel
Mare face o afirmatie indrazneata: "eu nu ma mai
tem de Dumnezeu, ci Il iubesc pe El. Ca dragostea
scoate afara frica".
Filozofia marxista considera credinta ca un
rezultat al fricii omului in fata stihiilor naturii.
Lucrurile stau tocmai invers: din credinta ca exista
Dumnezeu decurge frica de a nu-L supara si de a
nu-L determina sa te pedepseasca cu ajutorul
stihiilor naturii. Pentru a te teme de cineva trebuie
sa crezi ca acel cineva exista.
Frica de Dumnezeu este stimulata de aducerea
aminte de moarte. Iisus fiul lui Sirah spune in acest
sens: "In tot ce faci adu-ti aminte de sfarsitul tau si
nu vei pacatui niciodata" (Sirah 7, 38). Pomenirea
mortii este un exercitiu duhovnicesc pe care multi
Parinti il au in evlavie. De aceea ei recomanda
BULLETIN
100 Anniversary 11-13 Oct. 2013
altora aducerea aminte de moarte ca mijloc de
purificare. Este limpede ca nu moartea in sine il
sperie pe credincios, ci judecata lui Dumnezeu care
urmeaza dupa moarte.
Sfantul Ioan Scararul asociaza sfortarea de a-ti
aduce aminte de moarte cu asceza: "pomenirea
constienta a mortii departeaza mancarea. Iar
mancarea inlaturata cu smerenie, departeaza
patimile". Sfintii spun ca Dumnezeu a ingaduit
atatea necazuri in lume si pentru a nu ne lega cu
toate puterile de aceasta viata trecatoare, ci sa ne
indreptam nadejdile spre viata vesnica, unde "nici
plangere, nici strigat, nici durere nu vor mai fi"
(Apocalipsa 21, 4).
Rezumand vom spune ca omul care are credinta
si frica de Dumnezeu isi da seama ca este pacatos
si face pasul urmator pe calea despatimirii: se
pocaieste.
Monthly Offerings
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Victor & Elena
Glava
$ 140 - IMO of their mother Ileana
Victor & Nicoleta Agrigoroae Bolos $ 157
Ann
Bongard
$ 40 - Jan. & Feb. pledge
Silvia
Antonescu $ 30 - Feb. pledge
Cornea
Octavian
$ 100 - IMO Lucian Cornea
Anthony & Ioana
Infiesto
$ 100 - Altar Bread
Georgia M.
Omorean
$ 30 - Feb. pledge
Liliana
Badea
$ 25
Vasy
Sînzianu
$ 25
Cornea
Octavian
$ 125 - 2013 membership
To all the donors many thanks and MAY GOD BLESS YOU abundantly this
year with peace, health and happiness!
MEMBERSHIP = BELONGING
As we look ahead to a new year, please consider joining your church. That is, if you are
not already a member. We realize that as Orthodox Christians we are indeed members of
the Church. But as the parish “family” each one of us is responsible to give commitment
and support to the work and life (activity) of the church family. Commit yourself to the
church are you attending, and be glad to be part of it.
Our goal on this anniversary year (100 years) is to get more than 100 members. In 2012
we had only 90 members. Please help us!
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, St. Paul MN
BULLETIN
100 Anniversary 11-13 Oct. 2013
COMING EVENTS
- Sunday, March 10 2013 – MEMORIAL SERVICE after Divine Liturgy (please bring a list with the
names of the departed) / POMENIREA MORTILOR - Parastas de obşte - Slujba Parastasului de obşte va
începe imediat după Sfânta Liturghie.
Se va face pomenirea generala a tuturor celor dragi din familiile noastre şi nu numai, care s-au mutat la
cele veşnice. Este o traditie in Biserica Ortodoxă ca să ne rugăm att pentru cei vii, cât şi pentru cei care au
plecat din lumea aceasta, de aceea este importantă rugăciunea noastră.
VA RUGAM SA NU UITATI POMELNICUL (CU NUME), pentru pomenire.
Ce se aduce pentru Slujba Parastasului?
In primul rând pomelnicul cu cei morţi, apoi coliva din grâu, colac (sau o paine), fructe sau cozonac, o
sticlă cu vin (iar dacă doriţi şi alte bucate pe care le puteţi servi mai apoi în sală la pomană)
"Intru odihna Ta Doamne unde toţi sfinţii Tăi se odihnesc, odihneşte Doamne şi sufletele adormiţilor
robilor tăi mutaţi de la noi că Tu singur eşti iubitor de oameni."
- Sambata, 16 Martie, la ora 6pm - Seara de dans la sala noastră parohiala,.
Vă invităm pe toţi să sărbătorim împreună, cu muzică şi dans, ziua de naştere a celor născuţi în luna
Martie sau Februarie. Dacă ziua d-voastră de naştere este în această perioadă puteţi aduce un tort dacă
doriţi. Livia Poenaru, Silvia Panait şi Psa. Eugenia Cerghizan sponsorizează evenimentul.
Vă aşteptăm cu drag.
Saturday, March 16, at 6pm - Dancing event at our parish hall.
We invite all of you to celebrate with us, with music and dance, the birthday of all those born in March or
February. If you are born in this period you may bring a cake if you wish.
Livia Poenaru, Silvia Panait and Psa Eugenia Cerghizan are the event sponsors.
We are looking forward to see you.
- LENTEN RETREAT – March 29-31, 2013 at St George Greek OC, St Paul - 1111 Summit Ave, St Paul,
MN 55105. THE THEME IS “Inner River: A Pilgrimage to the Heart of Christian Spirituality.” Guest
Speaker: Dr. Kyriacos Markides
For more information go to www.stgeorgegoc.org
Pomenirea Mortilor in POSTUL MARE (17 Martie – 4 Mai)
MEMORIAL SERVICES during Great Lent (March 17– May 4)
SAMBATA, 23 Martie, 13 & 20 Aprilie, 2013 (a 1, 4, si 6 –a Sambata din Post) avem Sf.
Liturghie la 10:00 am & Parastas de obste la 11:30 am pentru cei adormiţi. Oricine doreşte să-i
pomenească pe cei adormiţi din familile lor îi invităm să participe la slujbele de Parastas de obşte.
In Biserica Ortodoxa, pomenirea mortilor are o traditie inrădăcinată, deoarece rugăciunile noastre
pentru cei adormiţi au un rol important la odihna lor vesnică.
SATURDAY, March 23 and April 13 & 20, 2013 (1st, 4th & 6th Lenten Saturday) we have
Divine Liturgy at 10:00 am and General Memorial Service (Parastas) for all the departed in
our church.
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, St. Paul MN
BULLETIN
100 Anniversary 11-13 Oct. 2013
CANDLES IN THE FRONT AND INSIDE THE ALTAR
On 02/17/ 2013 – donated by Ardeleanu Family IMO their departed ones; Dumnezeu
să-i ierte!
On 02/24/ 2013 – donated by Ioana & Anthony Infiesto with the occasion of their son
Anthony birthday. La multi ani!
On 03/03/ 2013 – donated by Ioan Osvar IMO Vasilica Osvar. Dumnezeu s-o ierte!
On 03/10/ 2013 – Donated by Fr. Mircea and Psa. Anca for the health of their new son Gabriel.
First Family Life Conference / All Auxiliary Conference is planned for July 4-7, 2013 at Vatra
Romaneasca, Michigan. At this family and auxiliary meeting you can attend religious services and
activities, conferences, discussions, meals and more cultural and religious activities for entire family.
http://www.roea.org/news_130114_1.html
IT’S A BOY
Fr. Mircea and Psa. Anca were blessed with a new son, Gabriel M, born on February
26, 2013. La multi ani!
ADUNAREA GENERALA
GENERAL ASSEMBLY (SYNOD)
Multumim tuturor celor care au participat la Adunarea Generala Duminica, 10 Februarie,
2013. La aceasta sedinta au avut loc si alegerile noului consiliu parohial.
I would like to THANK to everyone who participated patiently to our annual General
Assembly (Synod). We wish for future meetings to be more parishioners present. At the
meeting, held on Sunday, February 10, 2013 was elected the new parish council:
Council President: Georgia Marinkov-Omorean;
Vice President:
Adrian Pirviu;
Secretary:
Silvia Antonescu;
Treasurer:
Octavian Cornea,
Epitrop:
John Omorean, Nicholas Manciu; Andrei Bortnov, Nicolae Grigore;
Auditor:
P-sa Eugenia Cerghizan Anthony Infiesto & Tudor Felea;
Members:
Fiodor Didenco; Dan Luca, Constanta Korolchuk;
Congress delegates: Anthony Infiesto & Tudor Felea;
Ex- Officio:
Fr. Mircea Vasiu, Dorina Vincze Turcean (Ladies Auxiliary).
THE PASTOR SAYS:
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Put away from you crooked speech and put devious talk far from you. (Proverbs 4,23)
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, St. Paul MN
BULLETIN
100 Anniversary 11-13 Oct. 2013
CHRISTIAN ARGUMENTS AGAINST CREMATION
1. Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ died
on the Cross and was buried. (Nicene Creed)
We should imitate Jesus.
2. Everyone will be bodily resurrected in the
Second Coming of Christ. Cremation is a denial
of the bodily resurrection.
3. The human body is a sacred sanctuary even
after physical death.
4. Cremation with God’s blessing is never
mentioned in the Old Testament
5. We must not be conformed to this world
(Romans 12:2) especially as cremation becomes
more common.
Relics of the Saints - It is well known among
church historians that the early Christians
fervently
opposed
infanticide,
child
abandonment, abortion and suicide because
they believed in the sanctity of the human
being. In their minds, the sanctity of the human
body did not come to an end when a person
died. They saw the human being as the crown
of God’s creation, for man was made in the
image and likeness of God (Gen.1:27) “The
saints, during their earthly lives, were filled with
the Holy Spirit. And when they fulfill their
course, the grace of the Holy Spirit does not
depart from their souls or their bodies in the
tombs” (St. John of Damascus). Cremation
denies and deprives us of the sacred tradition
and benefits of the presence of saintly holy
relics.
St. Paul emphasizes this “Do you not know
that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit
dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple,
God will destroy that person. For God's temple
is holy and you are that temple” (1Cor.3:16-17).
He repeats this again later, “Do you not know
that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
within you, which have from God? You are not
your own” (1Cor.6:19). So, even though we may
not have attained a level of saintliness like
some
of
our
spiritual
predecessors,
nevertheless, God’s Holy Spirit lives and dwells
within us.
Conclusion - Cremation is the denial and
purposeful destruction of God’s human
temple. As followers of Christ, we are not
dualists or spiritualists who believe that the
material world is inherently evil and to be
despised. Rather, as Christians, we believe in
the inherent goodness of the material world,
especially our human bodies. Together, our
body and soul are created in God’s image and
likeness. We are called to redeem and
transfigure the creation to its original glory
and beauty by continually resisting sin and
temptation, repenting of our transgressions,
and opening our hearts, minds and bodies to
the indwelling presence of God’s divine grace
through His only-begotten Son and live-giving
Holy Spirit.
The only fire we should submit ourselves to
is the fire of God’s love and holy presence. St.
Paul also says “Each man’s work will become
manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it
will be revealed with fire and the fire will test
what sort of work each one has done…If any
man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss,
though he himself will be saved but only
through fire” (1Cor.3:14,15). Amen!
Because the Orthodox Faith affirms the
fundamental goodness of creation, it
understands the body to be an integral part of
the human person and the temple of the Holy
Spirit, and expects the resurrection of the
dead. The Church considers cremation to be
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, St. Paul MN
BULLETIN
the deliberate desecration and destruction of
what God has made and ordained for us. The
Church instead insists that the body be buried
so that the natural physical process of
decomposition may take place. The Church
does not grant funerals, either in the
sanctuary, or at the funeral home, or at any
100 Anniversary 11-13 Oct. 2013
other place, to persons who have chosen to be
cremated. Additionally, memorial services with
kolyva (boiled wheat) are not allowed in such
instances, inasmuch as the similarity between
the "kernel of wheat" and the "body" has been
intentionally destroyed.
LENTEN VESPERS
DATE, EVENT AND LOCATION
March 24, 2013 (Orthodoxy Sunday) Lenten Vespers
– 4 pm - St. Mary Cathedral OCA, Minneapolis
March 31, 2013 (St. Gregory Palamas) Lenten Vespers – 4 pm - St. George Greek OC St. Paul
April 7, 2013 (Holly Cross) Lenten Vespers
– 4 pm – St. George Antiochian OC W. St. Paul
April 14, 2012 (St. John Climacus) Lenten Vespers
– 4 pm - St Mary Greek OC, Minneapolis
April 21, 2012 (St. Mary of Egypt) Lenten Vespers
– 4 pm – St. Panteleimon Russian OC Minneapolis
April 28, 2012 Bridegroom Matins
– 4 pm - St. Hermans OCA , Minneapolis
FISH DINNER ~
ON PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2013
After Divine Liturgy
Toata lumea este invitata sa participe.
Everybody is welcome.
Altar bread, wine and oil, candles, charcoals, coffee hour DONATIONS are
always welcome (in memory of, for the health of, for help from God… etc.) Please
bring a Pomelnic (list with names) with your donation.
Thank you
Last month coffee hour donations:
Psa. Anca Vasiu, Psa. Eugenia Cerghizan. and Psa. Agnes Pop.
LENT – A time to remember, serve and love
Even though He knew His death was only a few days away, Jesus spent His last week on earth
preaching, teaching, praying and sharing with His followers. LENT is a time for us to examine our own
lifestyle, to evaluate how closely we are following the example He set for us.
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, St. Paul MN
BULLETIN
100 Anniversary 11-13 Oct. 2013
2013
ANNUAL PRYER LIST
POMELNIC LA CUNUNA ANULUI
For the living (Vii):
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
________________
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For the Deceased (Morţi)
At the beginning of the year, Orthodox Christians renew their prayer list for their
loved ones, both living and reposed. A Prayer List is submitted for commemorations to
be made at the Preparation of the Holy Gifts before each Divine Liturgy (Proscomedia
Service). PLEASE FILL IN THE ABOVE LISTS AND RETURN THEM TO FR. MIRCEA VASIU.
La începutul ficărui an, Creştinii Ortodocşi îşi reînoiesc pomelnicul pentru cei dragi,
vii şi adormiţi. Pomelnicul este adus şi citit de preot la rugăciunile dinaintea fiecărei
Sfintei Liturghii (la Pregătirea Darurilor – Proscomidia). VA RUGAM, COMPLETATI
POMELNICUL DE MAI SUS SI ADUCETI-L LA PR. MIRCEA VASIU,
Your name:
Address:
Donation to the Church
$